2023 Annual Conference Summary

What a joy it was to gather in-person with you for conferencing in St. Charles last weekend! As you return to your ministry setting refreshed and Spirit-filled, we’ve rounded up some details and resources you may find helpful in sharing Annual Conference with your local church.

Sharing Annual Conference

After you’ve had a chance to reflect, here are some practical ways to share what you’ve discovered with your church:

• Share your experience on social media with hashtag #MOAC23
• Write an article for your weekly email and other church communications
• Make use of the resources listed below
• Share your experience with your church leadership team(s)

Media from Annual Conference

• Worship Playlist – A list of the songs played by Salem United, our worship band during our time together.
• Annual Conference Recordings – Videos available for streaming and download from the weekend.
• Annual Conference Presentations – Download PDFs of slides shared during the business sessions of MOAC23.
• Sermon Recordings – Videos of the sermons preached during Opening Worship, Service of Recognition and Celebration of Ministry.
• Connect Sermon Series – Adult confirmation class curriculum, UMC connection resources and a five-week sermon series based on our 2023 Annual Conference theme, CONNECT: Uniquely United Methodist.

Laity Resources

These resources were shared during the Laity Session:

• Lay Ministry Team Greeting – Download and share the video shown at the start of all district laity sessions.
• Postcard from Laity Session – If you prefer a digital edition of our Laity Session handout, find it at this link.
• Lay Education Page – Learn more about available lay education courses as well as pathways to Certified Pulpit Supply and Certified Lay Minister.
• Absorb Learning Platform – Sign up for a free account and view online, on-demand learning opportunities.
• Now What? Resources - Resources for those who wish to remain United Methodist and do so with purpose, meaning and joy.
• Contact a Lay Leader – View a list of district lay leaders and their emails.
• Contact a District Lay Education Coordinator – View a list of district lay education coordinators and their emails.
• Stay Connected with Lay Ministries – Opt-in to the Missouri Laity Newsletter, district communications and more.
• Growth Opportunities for Laity – Conference Lay Ministry Team At-Large Member Kyle Boehr pulled together a guide for upcoming growth opportunities for laity. Share it with others in your local church!

Race and Culture Resources

Visit the race and culture hub on moumethodist.org to sign the statement of support and find stories and resources related to the Missouri Conference’s race and culture work, including downloadable T-shirt, sticker and phone wallpaper designs.

Annual Conference by the Numbers

• $22,443.49 was raised for the Mozambique Initiative offering, which will support equipping pastoral parsonages with solar panels.
• $18,329.27 was raised for the Disaster Response offering, which will help purchase additional supplies for relief kits deployed in disaster both in Missouri and around the United States.
• 8 individuals were ordained as Full Elder.
• 3 individuals were ordained as Full Deacon.
• 1 individual was received as an Associate Member.
• 8 individuals were commissioned into ministry as Provisional Elder.
• 1 individual was commissioned into ministry as Provisional Deacon.
• 5 Course of Study graduates were honored.
• 16 Licensing School graduates were recognized.
• 32 clergy members entered into retirement.
• 32 clergy and 19 spouses, including 3 clergy and 1 clergy spouses from Mozambique, who entered into the Church Triumphant were remembered.

Final Housekeeping Notes

Lost and Found

Any items collected from the Exhibit Hall at the conclusion of the annual conference session were transported to the Conference Center in Columbia. If you have a lost item, please call 573-441-1770 to inquire if we have it.

Stay Connected

We use the channels below regularly to communicate important announcements about upcoming events, programming that might be of interest to members of our Conference, creative and effective ideas being used in the local church, and much more.

• Conference website, www.moumethodist.org
• The Missouri Methodists Magazine
• District Newsletters, Net News, Clergy and Laity newsletters, and other email newsletters sign-up
• Missouri Annual Conference Facebook
• Missouri Conference Lay Leader Facebook
• Missouri Annual Conference Instagram
• Missouri Annual Conference Office, call the main line at 573-441-1770 or view Conference staff direct lines

Additionally, keep an eye out for the July issue of The Missouri Methodists magazine, which is our Annual Conference recap issue.

SAVE THE DATE FOR MOAC24

Mark your calendars and make plans to join us June 7-9, 2024, at the St. Charles Convention Center.